RECENT WORK
FROM PRISON CELL TO CALL CENTRE BOSS
Asia Business Report (BBC News), September 2020
Anil David walked out of prison with a plan.
The Singaporean man says an eight-year jail sentence was the impetus to launch a call centre business, hiring ex-convicts like himself.
Now he’s giving back to the community as Singapore struggles through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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LIVESTREAMING IN ASIA: MEET THE STARS OF 'SHOPPERTAINMENT'
Asia Business Report (BBC News), August 2020
As Covid-19 keeps millions of people at home, the popularity of "shoppertainment" has skyrocketed in Asia. A key part of that growth is livestreaming, where influential sellers host online product demonstrations. Companies are now investing big money into finding and training a new generation of stars who use their charm to sell everything from makeup to shoes.
"I GREW UP IN A WAR; I'M NOT DYING IN A PANDEMIC"
BBC News Online, August 2020
Margaret Alcock sheltered from bombs during the Blitz, crossed an ocean to live in Australia, and was evacuated to safety during last season's bushfires. The 89-year-old - who is my nanna - used stoicism and black humour to cope during those times. It's the same now with Covid-19.
HAWKERS STRUGGLE WITH COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Asia Business Report (BBC News), June 2020
Singapore is cautiously emerging from a two-month lockdown known as the 'circuit breaker'. Although the streets are slowly coming to life, a ban on dining in remains - leaving the city state’s usually bustling hawker centres almost empty.Some stallholders have pivoted to online sales...but many older chefs are reluctant to embrace technology.
SINGAPORE TURNS RUBBISH INTO ENERGY AND FOOTPATHS
Asia Business Report (BBC News), February 2020
Singapore is a small country with a big rubbish problem. Currently most of its waste is burned and buried on an artificial island - but that is nearly full. So the country is experimenting with a waste-to-energy system - burning its rubbish to generate electricity then putting the remaining material to build things like footpaths. But critics say this doesn't address the real problem - we're just producing too much trash.
MEET THE ROBOT THAT CLEANS FLOORS AND TELLS JOKES
Asia Business Report (BBC News), September 2019
More than 100 fully autonomous cleaning robots are coming to Singapore this year, made by local manufacturer Lionsbot.
Ella tells jokes as she cleans the floor in the island nation's National Gallery... but not everyone is convinced.
